BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THOUGH the date for Local Elections is yet to be announced, both the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) and the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) are in campaign mode, and the latter is confident of forming the next Government.
Just recently, leader of the NRP, the Hon. Joseph Party told SKNVibes News that they have already forwarded the names of the candidates who would be contesting for the five seats: Robelto Hector (Charlestown), Hensley Daniels (St. Johns), Cory Tyson (Gingerland), Virgil Browne (St. James) and Joseph Parry (St. Thomas’).
He explained that they have all been working diligently over the last year, meeting the people of Nevis and listening to their concerns.
Adding that they have used all of the major modern technology to get their messages across, such as Facebook, Parry intimated that they have had successful town hall meetings in recent times.
“But the important thing for us is to meet people and to hear what their issues are, and we have been doing a lot of that. We have also been doing a lot of work to ensure that our manifesto reflects the thinking and aspiration of the people, rather than our own thoughts,” Parry said.
The party leader stressed that the NRP is “well on its way to being prepared for the elections” and is confident that the electorate is behind them.
Elections on Nevis are constitutionally due by early 2018, but the CCM-led Nevis Island Administration is yet to indicate when it would be held.
But, in the meantime, Parry stated that he is very positive that “by the grace of God we would be in government”.
He lamented that “nothing substantial has been done by the CCM Government”, noting that they “cannot point to any major achievement of theirs”.
“Because, for the first four years, they did very little, except to pay salaries on a monthly basis. And then after 2015, two of the ministers went off to St. Kitts and spent all of the time down there and get two salaries per month. So, for the last six months they have been rushing around trying to get things done.”
Further, Parry criticized the Government for its decision to undertake projects at this time of the year, owing to it being the hurricane seas – lamenting that many of the road projects being damaged or washed away.
He lashed out at the Government for neglecting to carry out remedial work on two high schools during the summer, claiming that children are being made to walk on a construction site to access their school.
According to Parry, his party’s priority areas include the decriminalization of marijuana, among others.
He explained that they are looking to remove the stigma that is associated with persons using the plant.
Many have called on the Federal Government to review the law on marijuana, as many young individuals are often arrested for small amounts of it.
He believes that by removing that stigma and discrimination it would reduce persons’ exposure to crime, while seeking out the medical benefits and revenue generation from the herb.
The NRP leader reiterated that they are looking to pick up the majority of seats to form the next Government in order to work for the people.
